Some 35km/20mi from the Romanian capital, the lake is part of a leisure park which is popular with Bucharest's inhabitants. The monastery (1364) stands on a little island in the centre of the lake. In 1456, Vlad Tepes built fortifications and a church here. The story goes that he was Bram Stoker's inspiration for Dracula and he is buried in the pretty stone church (1517). This connection draws many tourists.